Summary
- The 20th Sony World Photography Awards has its judging panel.
- Monica Allende returns as Chair of the Jury for Series, while entry deadlines and the Somerset House exhibition dates have also been confirmed.
The World Photography Organisation has announced the judging panel for the Sony World Photography Awards 2027, the landmark 20th edition of the international photography programme.
The jury brings together eight photography, curatorial, publishing and institutional professionals from seven countries across four continents. Entries will be judged anonymously in early 2027.
Monica Allende returns as Series jury chair
Independent Curator and Photography Consultant Monica Allende returns as Chair of the Jury for the Series competition and as curator of the Awards exhibition at Somerset House in London.
She is joined on the Series jury by Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo, Peipei Han, Candice Jansen, Amanda Renshaw and Pauline Vermare. Maja Dyrehauge Gregersen, Managing Director of Copenhagen Photo Festival, will judge the Single Image and Youth competitions, while FUTURES Foundation founder and director Menno Liauw will judge the Student competition.
The 2027 judging panel
- Series: Monica Allende, Santiago Escobar-Jaramillo, Peipei Han, Candice Jansen, Amanda Renshaw, Pauline Vermare.
- Single Image & Youth: Maja Dyrehauge Gregersen.
- Student: Menno Liauw.
What is new for 2027
The anniversary edition also introduces structural changes. Professional has been renamed Series, while Open is now Single Image. Two new categories have also been added: Histories in Series and Animal Portraits in Single Image.
For the first time, photographers can enter both Series and Single Image, provided the submitted work is different across the two competitions.
Deadlines and prizes
Entry is free. The Student competition closes on 27 November 2026 at 16:00 GMT. Single Image and Youth close on 5 January 2027 at 16:00 GMT, while Series closes on 12 January 2027 at 16:00 GMT.
The Photographer of the Year receives a $25,000 cash prize, Sony Digital Imaging equipment and a solo presentation at the following year’s exhibition. The Single Image Competition Winner receives $5,000, while winning and shortlisted photographers gain exhibition opportunities, publication in the annual book and international exposure through the Awards programme.
The Somerset House exhibition
The Sony World Photography Awards 2027 exhibition will run at Somerset House in London from 15 April to 3 May 2027. It will include selected winning and shortlisted works, as well as a special presentation by 2026 Photographer of the Year Citlali Fabián. The 2027 Outstanding Contribution to Photography recipient is due to be announced in November.
Our view
The panel places strong emphasis not only on image-making but also on curation, archival research, photobooks and institutional presentation. The new Histories and Animal Portraits categories also open two distinct directions: work engaging with memory and history, and contemporary animal portraiture.
Frequently asked questions
Who chairs the jury?
Monica Allende returns as Chair of the Jury for the Series competition.
When do entries close?
Student: 27 November 2026. Single Image and Youth: 5 January 2027. Series: 12 January 2027, all at 16:00 GMT.
When is the London exhibition?
From 15 April to 3 May 2027 at Somerset House.
What are the new categories?
Histories in Series and Animal Portraits in Single Image.
Find out more here.
